The caliph Haroon-oor-Rasheed went to visit the tomb of the celebrated
Noosheerwan, the most famous of all the monarchs who ever governed
Persia. Before the tomb was a curtain of gold cloth, which, when
Haroon touched it, fell to pieces. The walls of the tomb were covered
with gold and jewels, whose splendour illumined its darkness. The body
was placed in a sitting posture on a throne enchased with jewels, and
had so much the appearance of life that, on the first impulse, the
Commander of the Faithful bent to the ground, and saluted the remains
of the just Noosheerwan.
Though the face of the departed monarch was like that of a living man,
and the whole of the body in a state of preservation, which showed the
admirable skill of those who embalmed it, yet when the caliph touched
the garments they mouldered into dust. Haroon upon this took his own
rich robes and threw them over the corpse; he also hung up a new
curtain richer than that he had destroyed, and perfumed the whole
tomb with camphor, and other sweet scents.
It was remarked that no change was perceptible in the body of
Noosheerwan, except that the ears had become white. The whole scene
affected the caliph greatly; he burst into tears, and repeated from
the Koran--"What I have seen is a warning to those who have eyes." He
observed some writing upon the throne, which he ordered the Moobids
(priests), who were learned in the Pehlevee language, to read and
explain. They did so: it was as follows:--
"This world remains not; the man who thinks least of it is
the wisest.
"Enjoy this world before thou becomest its prey.
"Bestow the same favour on those below thee as thou desirest
to receive from those above thee.
"If thou shouldst conquer the whole world, death will at
last conquer thee.
"Be careful that thou art not the dupe of thine own fortune.
"Thou shalt be paid exactly for what thou hast done; no
more, no less."
The caliph observed a dark ruby-ring on the finger of Noosheerwan, on
which was written--
"Avoid cruelty, study good, and never be precipitate in
action.
"If thou shouldst live for a hundred years, never for one
moment forget death.
"Value above all things the society of the wise."
Around the right arm of Noosheerwan was a clasp of gold, on which was
engraved--
"On a certain year, on the 10th day of the month
Erdebehisht, a caliph of the race of Adean, professing the
faith of Mahomed, accompanied by four good men, and one bad,
shall visit my tomb."
Below this sentence were the names of the forefathers of the caliph.
Another prophecy was added concerning Haroon's pilgrimage to
Noosheerwan's tomb.
"This prince will honour me, and do good unto me, though I
have no claim upon him; and he will clothe me in a new vest,
and besprinkle my tomb with sweet-scented essences, and then
depart unto his home. But the bad man who accompanies him
shall act treacherously towards me. I pray that God may send
one of my race to repay the great favours of the caliph, and
to take vengeance on his unworthy companion. There is, under
my throne, an inscription which the caliph must read and
contemplate. Its contents will remind him of me, and make
him pardon my inability to give him more."
The caliph, on hearing this, put his hand under the throne, and found
the inscription, which consisted of some lines, inscribed on a ruby as
large as the palm of the hand. The Moobids read this also. It
contained information where would be found concealed a treasure of
gold and arms, with some caskets of rich jewels; under this was
written--
"These I give to the caliph in return for the good he has
done me; let him take them and be happy."
When Haroon-oor-Rasheed was about to leave the tomb, Hoosein-ben-Sahil,
his vizier, said to him: "O Lord of the Faithful, what is the use of
all these precious gems which ornament the abode of the dead, and are
of no benefit to the living? Allow me to take some of them." The caliph
replied with indignation, "Such a wish is more worthy of a thief than
of a great or wise man." Hoosein was ashamed of his speech, and said to
the servant who had been placed at the entrance of the tomb, "Go thou,
and worship the holy shrine within." The man went into the tomb; he was
above a hundred years old, but he had never seen such a blaze of
wealth. He felt inclined to plunder some of it, but was at first
afraid; at last, summoning all his courage, he took a ring from the
finger of Noosheerwan, and came away.
Haroon saw this man come out, and observing him alarmed, he at once
conjectured what he had been doing. Addressing those around him, he
said, "Do not you now see the extent of the knowledge of Noosheerwan?
He prophesied that there should be one unworthy man with me. It is
this fellow. What have you taken?" said he, in an angry tone.
"Nothing," said the man. "Search him," said the caliph. It was done,
and the ring of Noosheerwan was found. This the caliph immediately
took, and, entering the tomb, replaced it on the cold finger of the
deceased monarch. When he returned, a terrible sound like that of loud
thunder was heard.
Haroon came down from the mountain on which the tomb stood, and
ordered the road to be made inaccessible to future curiosity. He
searched for, and found, in the place described, the gold, the arms,
and the jewels bequeathed to him by Noosheerwan, and sent them to
Bagdad.
Among the rich articles found was a golden crown, which had five
sides, and was richly ornamented with precious stones. On every side a
number of admirable lessons were written. The most remarkable were as
follows:--
_First side._
"Give my regards to those who know themselves.
"Consider the end before you begin, and before you advance
provide a retreat.
"Give not unnecessary pain to any man, but study the
happiness of all.
"Ground not your dignity upon your power to hurt others."
_Second side._
"Take counsel before you commence any measure, and never
trust its execution to the inexperienced.
"Sacrifice your property for your life, and your life for
your religion.
"Spend your time in establishing a good name; and if you
desire fortune, learn contentment."
_Third side._
"Grieve not for that which is broken, stolen, burnt, or
lost.
"Never give orders in another man's house; and accustom
yourself to eat your bread at your own table.
"Make not yourself the captive of women."
_Fourth side._
"Take not a wife from a bad family, and seat not thyself
with those who have no shame.
"Keep thyself at a distance from those who are incorrigible
in bad habits, and hold no intercourse with that man who is
insensible to kindness.
"Covet not the goods of others.
"Be guarded with monarchs, for they are like fire which
blazeth but destroyeth.
"Be sensible to your own value; estimate justly the worth of
others; and war not with those who are far above thee in
fortune."
_Fifth side._
"Fear kings, women, and poets.
"Be envious of no man, and habituate not thyself to search
after the faults of others.
"Make it a habit to be happy, and avoid being out of temper,
or thy life will pass in misery.
"Respect and protect the females of thy family.
"Be not the slave of anger; and in thy contests always leave
open the door of conciliation.
"Never let your expenses exceed your income.
"Plant a young tree, or you cannot expect to cut down an old
one.
"Stretch your legs no further than the size of your carpet."
The caliph Haroon-oor-Rasheed was more pleased with the admirable
maxims inscribed on this crown than with all the treasures he had
found. "Write these precepts," he exclaimed, "in a book, that the
faithful may eat of the fruit of wisdom." When he returned to Bagdad,
he related to his favourite vizier, Jaffier Bermekee, and his other
chief officers, all that had passed; and the shade of Noosheerwan was
propitiated by the disgrace of Hoosein-ben-Sahil (who had recommended
despoiling his tomb), and the exemplary punishment of the servant who
had committed the sacrilegious act of taking the ring from the finger
of the departed monarch.